This ancient place symbolizes for me how important it is to honor the past, know those who came long before us, exhibit craftsmanship, and build for the long haul. I have sought to do all this since 2005. While speaking out of very Progressive political leanings, I still maintain a deep love of the Constitution.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Congressional give-and-take with Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has been successful in advancing the President's agenda, Shailagh Murray reported at the Washington Post a few days ago. Just prior to working on the 2010 budget resolution, 46 legislators came to the White House to meet with Emanuel. "On April 2 Emanuel's hospitality paid off," said Murray. All but 3 of his visitors voted for the measure. She explained further: "The White House legislative strategy blends Obama's vision and salesmanship with Emanuel's granular political expertise and deal-making skills."

Second-guessing the President's words -- Robert Schlesinger opines that, in his most recent economic speech, President Obama should have chosen a different concept than "new foundation" to illustrate how he wants to fix the economy. The author reminded us that the phrase was used unsuccessfully in the Jimmy Carter administration, and was discarded three days later. The post was found in the US News and World Report of 4/14/09.

Intergovernmental give and take -- “Over 700 Federal employees, contractors, academicians and interested members of the public have mounted a campaign to enhance collaboration, knowledge and learning in the Federal Government,” according to Steven Aftergood at Secrecy News. Additionally, "The initiative is developing its policy proposals along with educational and promotional materials on a public wiki site hosted by NASA."

Watching his words -- Aftergood also reports on a Presidential memo issued last month. President Obama said, "“If scientific and technological information is developed and used by the Federal Government, it should ordinarily be made available to the public,” according to a new memorandum on “Scientific Integrity” that was issued by President Obama on March 9. The president also promised to limit the use of signing statements, and to “make clear the nature and basis of the constitutional objection.” Also, this story appeared recently on Wired-Threat Level: "Legal Scholar: Obama Breaking Promise for Online Transparency (4/14/09).

Words don't always matter -- Former Vice President Dick Cheney's recently stated assertion, that President Obama's actions have increased the chances of a terrorist attack, fell mostly on deaf ears according to a (4/13) public opinion poll by CNN. To quote: "Seventy-two percent of those questioned in the poll released Monday disagree with Cheney's view that some of Obama's actions have put the country at greater risk, with 26 percent agreeing with the former vice president."

The power of words is illustrated in a slightly different way in a section of Thursday's CQ - Behind the Lines newsletter, by David C. Morrison:

President Obama has repeatedly stated that he wants people around him who will speak their own minds. That standard has served him well. Choosing very smart people who can speak out, and at the same time collaborate, will help Mr. Obama govern. The President generally speaks up for himself, choosing his words thoughtfully. He is a great "teacher," able to be plain-spoken when necessary. And we trust him and take his word for promises made. Broken promises can break our hearts. And we trust that his biggest decisions will keep us safe, despite what former officials claim. And finally we can celebrate that we live in a free country where people can speak up, even if they turn out to be wrong.

"Polygon" by Carol Gee

Living Green

Constitutional Focus:

The USA has a guiding document that has informed our finest hours for over 200 hundred years. The Constitution enshrines certain rights and liberties that have made us who we are. The Bill of Rights includes free speech, privacy, voting rights and habeas corpus, among others.

These rights and liberties have been eroding since the turn of the century. South by Southwest is my small effort to inform. As advocates, we fight for the full restoration of the Constitution,with all its inherent rights, as our guiding document.

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The Magic of "paper.li"

If you are active on the social web site, Twitter, skimming the news will be your mode of operation. You will see the most recent 140-character posts from all those you follow. But it is not as if you are reading a newspaper.
This is where the auto-generating platform “paper.li” comes in. Tweeps are able to “publish” daily news pages featuring whatever subjects are of interest to them. I am able to add or delete news items, move them around on the page, and add my own Editor’s note whenever I wish.
My four daily news pages include:
Speaking Up -- A platform for my favorite important voices.

Many of us admire activists who stand up and speak out for what is right. I follow good people in Congress, prominent civil libertarians, popular bloggers, and effective journalists and writers. They speak up here.
I edit this material most every day. By moving items, deleting ones that are not pertinent and adding my own, it reflects my take on activism.
This "newspaper" is an auto- compilation from three of my Twitter lists:
Civil Libs - ActivistsBloggers and BlogsOfficials – Government

This is an edited auto-publication.

As the curator of my Twitter lists, from which these news items come, I take care that all the articles and headlines are those that are most significant, timely, unusual, or interesting to me.
It is one of the ways I quickly "keep up with the day."
My lists of contributors to this paper (whom I follow) include:Media DarlingsReporters and WritersNewspapers and Magazines.

Space, technology, the environment and science impact our lives daily.This news source focuses on the Earth and its neighborhoods.
Good causes working to save the earth and its creatures are spotlighted.
I follow astronauts, NASA, science and technology news-makers, etc.
Their posts are presented here every day.
Enjoy! And then do your own part . . .